Confederate flag to fly over Richmond Va. stirring controversy

The Confederate flag, for some a symbol of slavery and others a tribute to their Southern heritage.Eric Draper | The Associated Press

A giant 10-by-15 foot Confederate flag has been purchased by a group in Richmond, Va. They have a plot of land by Interstate 95 in the city, and intend to install and fly the flag atop a 50-foot flagpole starting next week.

"The sole intention of this is to honor our ancestors," said Susan Hathaway, founder of the Virginia Flaggers. "There is no intention to stick anything in anybody's face."

Newser reported the flag will serve to welcome visitors and commuters to Richmond, and remind them of Confederate history and heritage.

Virginia has cut a significant amount of evidence of the Confederacy from the Civil War sesquicentennial. Hathaway doesn't understand why Southerners who are proud of their Confederate heritage shouldn't feel welcome.

In spite of the historical significance of Richmond serving as capital of the Confederacy during the Civil War, Virginia chapter executive director King Salim Khalfani said the flag would portray Richmond as a "backwater, trailer park, hick town."

"If [those soldiers] had been successful, I'd still be in chains," Khalfani said. The flag is "an embarrassment" and will only dampen tourism in the area, he said.

150 years after the Civil War, displaying the Confederate flag is still bound to stir up emotions.

In April 2012, a high school girl was barred from attending her prom for wearing a dress with the stars and bars pattern. She was told it was "offensive and inappropriate," according to Fox News.

Southern rockers Lynyrd Skynyrd, who will perform this year at the N.Y. State Fair, promised last year to continue displaying the flag at their concerts, after fans grew angry over news that the group would be distancing themselves from the image.

"The Confederate flag means something more to us, Heritage not Hate," said guitarist Gary Rossington.

What do you think about flying the Confederate flag? Leave a comment below.